Mamdani to Be Sworn In at Abandoned Subway Station
On New Year’s Day, just after midnight, mayor-elect Zoran Mamdani will take his oath of office at a deserted subway station beneath City Hall Park, as announced by his transition team on Monday.
New York State Attorney General Letitia James, a prominent supporter of the young socialist politician, will also participate in a private swearing-in ceremony at the Old City Hall subway station.
“As I stand at the station at the break of a new year, I’m truly grateful for the chance to guide millions of New Yorkers into a new chapter of opportunity while honoring our city’s rich legacy,” Mamdani expressed.
The Democratic Socialists selected this venue to shine a light on the city’s ambitious past, noting that this station was part of the first subway line, inaugurated in 1904.
James remarked on Monday that it was a privilege to engage in the ceremony at such an unusual location.
“Our subway connects us all and embodies what the next mayor envisions: a city where every New Yorker can flourish,” she shared on social media.
The station, adorned with Guastavino tiles and beautiful chandeliers, remains an active turnaround point for the Downtown 6 Line. However, access requires special permits, as it was closed to the public in 1945. Tours, though rare, are offered through the New York Museum of Transportation.
After the intimate inauguration, Mamdani will host a block party around City Hall Park in lower Manhattan, expecting over 40,000 attendees.
Senator Bernie Sanders, who has been a longtime ally of the Democratic Socialists, is set to take the oath during Mamdani’s public inauguration on Thursday afternoon.
Details emerged that Mamdani’s transition team had been coordinating a celebration for weeks. The festivities plan to close the roadway south of Canal Street on Broadway, a route typically reserved for ticker-tape parades.
Mamdani’s team has promoted the event as a “people’s man” gathering, anticipated to draw thousands to lower Manhattan on New Year’s Day.
However, forecasts indicate temperatures will drop below freezing on Thursday.
